This whole idea that with Levy, 'every player has his price' is just nonsense. Modric was a massive turning point for us. I remember that summer. We faced the full onslaught of the press, of Modric's advisors, of the Chelsea spin machine, Modric on strike, literally everything that could have been thrown at us, and he still didn't move. Literally articles in The Sun painting Levy as a monster for not letting little Luka 'follow his dream' and join Chelsea. John Terry coming out and being quoted that he fully expected Modric to be at Chelsea's training ground and was surprised it wasn't done yet. Hilarious.
Yes, we eventually sold Modric, but we sold him because he put a shift in that season and was able to secure a move to the biggest club in the world and become a multi-time CL winner. It wasn't about the money when we sold him, it was because we argued fairly that he was happy to sign a long contract with us when things were going well and that if he gave us another season, our platform would secure him an even better move. It wasn't because Real somehow gazumped Chelsea in the money stakes, it was because we did the right thing.
Same with Bale. He went, probably ahead of our schedule, but improved beyond any expectations and earned his move to the biggest club in the world. He came a multi-time CL winner, and we didn't stop him. If players really want to follow their dreams, we will let them, but it has to work for the club.
What absolutely does not happen anymore, is getting bullied by the likes of United, City and Chelsea. We are not a top-6 'happy to be here' club that is happy for the money. We are a better team than the Manchester clubs and pushed Chelsea to the wire. The idea that Dier is open to the move and the articles are written like its an inevitability are hilarious to me. We would sooner sell any of our players abroad than sell to a league rival and I don't think Levy gives a toss about the money. He could probably pay off the stadium by selling the right players this summer and he'd be sorted but that isn't the point. He wants us to be successful. We're in an era where Leicester can win the league, where Spurs have been the most consistent team in the league over the last 2 years and where every club is rich. The idea that anyone should give a toss that United are 'stepping up negotiations' is just baffling.
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